Vibration detector



Sept. 254, 1934. H. c; HAYES vvRATIoN DETEcToR original Filed sept. 2s, `192'? 2 Sheetsf-Sheet l HARVEY C. HHYES #VVE/V70@ lllllll'l 'Il E HAS' ATTORNEY 'Sept- 25, 1934. H. c. HAYES 1,974,422

I l VIBRATION DETECTOR I Original Filed Sept. 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARVEY c. HAYES /N VEN T09 Patented Sept. 25, 1934 VIBRATION DETECTOR Harvey C. Hayes, Washington, D. C.

Original application September 23, 1927, Serial No. 221,520. Divided and this application December 8, 1930, Serial No. 500,84.

4 claims. (c1. 117-352) (Granted meer', the ma: Muon 3, laas, as amended anni so, im; 31o '0. o. '151) This case lis a division of my copend'ing appli'- cation covering Vibration detectors, Serial No. 221,520, filed September 23, 1927 andjssued De- 'cember 27, 1932 asPatent #1,892,147.

It has been a primary object of this invention to devise means for detecting vibrations which are produced in the surface of the earth either in the form of sound waves yor of waves having av frequency outside of the range of audibility. An important feature of this invention is the construction of a device which is capable of picking up vibrations with equal facility over a wide range of direction. This is quite important where the precise direction from which the vibration emanates is not known and where it is desired to take note of the'magnitude of the vibrations received. While the device contemplated by the present invention is not limited to use in solid ground, but can be used for the reception of sound waves through water or directly through the air; it is particularly well sued for the reception of earth tremors and the like. One instance of'the use to which the detector of the present invention can be put is for the reception of waves artificially set up in the ground, as by the explosion of a charge of dynamite, so th'at the character of the Waves may be readily studied. It is well known that the amplitude and other characteristics of waves of this type vary materially with the nature of the mediathrough which they have travelled and also in accordance with whether they are directly received or received after refraction or reflection.

An object of the invention has been to construct a device for the purposes specied in such a way that the mechanical energy of the sound or similarrfwavemay readily be converted into electrical energy. This conversion, furthermore, has been brought about without sacrificing any of the inherent characteristics of the original wave so that the records produced by the electrical means will give an accurate indication of the nature of the original waves. It has been an object to provide a very intimate contact between the device and the earth whose vibrations it is designed to detect. For this purpose the outer casing of the instrument has been formed in the shape of a cone having a gradual taper and being of sunicient dimension to insure its movement with the earth. To aid in providing this movement with the earth, furthermore, the casing has been constructed of suitable material and of appropriate thickness so that the device will-have substantially 'the same average density and the same center, of gravity as the earth into which it is inserted.

In the operation of the device which is based upon the general principles of magneto-electrical devices the casing is adapted to partake of the vibrations to be recorded while an inertia member within the casing remains substantially stationary. This provides the necessary relative movement between certain magnetic poles and adjacent magnetic conductors to create the desired variations in the ux passing through suitable coils located in the magnetic field. It is an object to so arrange the magnets and coils that the effects will be combined and will be substantially uniform over a wide range of direction of reception.

Another object of the invention has been to so construct and arrange the armature and its coils that a single device may, if desired, be emof the vibration.

With these and other incidental objects in view one form of the invention will now be described with reference tor the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view in elevation of the assembled vibration detector.

Figure 2 is a sectional view along theline 2 2 of Figure 1 with certain parts broken away to disclose others.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic showing of suitable circuits foil enabling the detector to determine the direction of the source of the vibration.

Figure 4` is a. diagrammatic view of the circuits employed in the use of the device.

Referring now to Figure 1 it will be noted that the main body of the device is formed bya conical casing 10 of any suitable material,preferably such that with other parts, as will be explained, it will create a mass having an average density substantially the same as that normally encountered in surface soil. Aluminum has been found tion. ,Above the substantially solid part there is a large cavity or opening practically in the form of a frustrum of a cone which leaves only a wall of the desired thickness, such as mentioned. The cone preferably tapers from a relatively sharp point to an outside diameter in the neighborhood of five inches, while the opening is `approximately three inches in diameter at the op.

In order to facilitate-the insertion of the cone into the earthit is provided `with a steel point 12 having a screw-threaded extension 13 adapted to be fitted into a screw-threaded opening at the lower end of the conical casing. The outer surface of the tip as shown is designed to form a smooth even contour'with the lowery end of the casing. If desired the tip may be locked into position when screwed into-'place by means of a countersunk set screw extending through the lower wall of the casing.

A resilient'rod 14 of sufficient length to have a low natural frequency of -vibration and made of any suitable material, preferably brass, carries a screw-threaded tip 15 which is also adapted to t into a threaded portion at the lower end of the conical casing. The rod extends upwardly through the opening 11` and into the larger cavity of the cone at a point substantially ator near the upper surface of the cone. to vsupport an inertia member comprising an armature 16, which, as shown, is preferably formedY as a ,cross to provide four separate pole pieces. The armature, which is preferably made of 'laminated steel rsuch as is commonly used in transformers, may be secured in anyway to the end of the rod, as by tting it over the end of the rod onto a shoulder formed thereon and by Vholding it in place by a nut as shown. On each of the four poles of the armature there is mounted a coil 17 formed of a suitable number of turns of insulated wire, these coils beingv designatedY as l1, 2, 3 and 4 in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings. The turns or windings of the coils are arranged in such sense about thearmature poles that current passed through them from a D. C.

source will tend to establish like magnetic poles at oppositeends of the cross, for example coils 1 and 4 may establish south poles," while coils 2 and 3 may establish north poles. Suitable connecting wires are employed, to couple the coils, as shown in Figure 4. Thus coils 1 and 2 are connected in series by means of their outermost turns, while coils 3 and 4 are similarly connected. The inner ends of coils 2 and 3 are connected and 4suitable-leads are taken ci from the loose ends of coils 1 and 4 and from the inner end of the coil 2, these leads being designateifl-S, 19 and 20, respectively. Insulating plate 21 made of vany suitable material, such as a phenolic condensation product, carries a set of three contact points 22 to which the several leads 1-8, 19 and 20 are connected.

Surrounding the armature there is provided an annular ring 23 made up of laminations similar to those employed in the armature itself. These may or may not be bound together, as desired,

since they are squeezed tightly together by means of a locking ring 24 which forces them against a shoulder 25 at the upper end ofthe conical casing. The' locking ring which is screw-threaded into the upper end of the casing is preferably made of some non-magnetic material, such as brass. It is quite'esser'tial that considerable accuracybe provided in the fitting of the armature within the annular ring. For this reasony the inside of the ring is preferably ground accurately to the desired diameter and-similarly the ends of the pole pieces are ground to form an accurate,

'I'his rod is adapted' arcuate face. Normally there will be a slight clearance between the ends' of the pole pieces and the inner surface of the annular ring. In practice it has been found desirable to provide a clearance of about .006 of' an inch between each pole piece and 'the ring. A series of VAscrews 26 pass through collars ofv appropriate length which serve to support the previously mentioned insulating plate 21, the lower ends of these screws being yfitted into threaded openings in the ring 24.

A cap 27, preferably formed rof-aluminum, is adapted to enclose the elements llocated at the upper end of the cone and is secured to the latter. For this purpe 'thev cap is provided with a flange through kwhich a series of bolts 28 pass into a corresponding ange 29 of the cone. An annular rib 30 formed on the lowersurface of the cap and having its lower edge cut at an angle, as shown, is adapted to flt into an annular recess 31 iny the upper end of the cone to provide a water-tight seal at this point. As an aid to the eilfectiveness of this seal the annular recess is preferably lled with some yielding material, such' as rubber, to form a gasket. AA small opening in the upper end of the cap is adapted'to permit the passage of the cable 32 having three leads 33 which are connected tothe contact points 22. In order Ato'p'rovide a water-tight connection surrounding the cable the latter fits as tightly as ,possible inthe opening inthe cap and there is also provided a stuffing box 'or gland construe tion .in the upper portion of the cap. Thus a small reduced portion of the latteris closed oi by a disc 34 which is supportedfrom the top of the cap by a series of three bolts 35. The chamber thus provided maybe lled with any suitable material, such as rubber.

In practice the device if used in solid ground must be inserted into the earth for the full length of the cone,'which, as previously stated, may be about thirty'inches. Since` it would probably damage the instrument to attempt to force it directly into any very solid ground, it is contemplated thatconical holes of substantially the right dimensions may flrst be formed by means of a prod bar, for example, so that the detector need* only be forced for the last few inches of its length. In so forming the device it has been found to establish a very intimate contact with the surrounding soil whereby any vibration of the latter, in its packed condition, will be readily transmitted to the casing. The armature 16, however, due to its inertia will tend to remain stationary on the upper end of the rod 14 thereby tending to decrease the air gap between certain lof the poles and the annular ring 23 and at the same time increase the air gap between one or more of the remaining poles and the ring.l This variation in the air gaps will, of course, tend to vary the ux passing through the several coils and will :gi

the coils 1 and 2 may be returned through the l section 38 of the primary winding of a transformer, while the circuit through the coils 3 and 4 may be returned through a section 39 of the same primary winding. When the apparatus is vat rest the current owing through the coils and carence rent will, therefore, he induced in these coils which will he in the same sense as the current from the source 37. This added current may pass through the coil 38 in the direction indicated by the arrow ci. .at the same time .the uur: through the coils 3 and e will be increased and a current opposing that supplied by the source 37 will be 'induced and this current, therefore, or change in current will have the @emersil direction in coil 39, as indicated bythe arrow Thus it will be seen that the two induced. currents inthe coils l and 2 and the coils 3 and e, respectively; will he added in their eiect in passing through the primary of the transformer, so that a current equal to the combined cect will be induced in the secondary winding so. Any suitable means may be .provided for creating a. visible or audible indication of the current changes in the transformer.

A feature to he noted in connection with the v generation ci the induced current in the manner speciecl is that the precise direction from which the vibration is received is not material, the magnitude of the eicct produced in the transformer will be substantially the same for a given magnitude of `vibration over e. wide range ci direction from whlchitmay he received. This is brought about by the fact that the currents in.. duced in each coil of a pair will be added tothe current induced in the other coil of the pair. onsideriug the coils l and 2, for example, o. l vibration received in a horizontal direction, as shown in Figure e, will induce a maximum curv rent in coil 2 and practically no current in coil' l. On the other hand a movement in the vertical direction, as shown in Figure s, will induce a maximum current in coil '1 and little orno current in coli 2. lf the vibration is received. from any intermediate direction within the rangey between the horizontal and vertical it will generate a current in both coils correspoimi-` ing to the horizontal and vertical componen ci the motion and the two currents in the coils l and 2A will be added. There is only a single definite direction from which Va vibration will have no eiect upon the transformer. This is 'a vibration substantially at right angles to the arrow shown in Figure e. It will be seen that a vibration in this direction, say toward the upper left'hand corner of the drawings, will increase the flux in coil 2 and correspondingly decrease the ux in coil l so that the two E. M. EJs induced will be opposed and presumably equal. Similarly the two E.' M. Ffs induced in coils 3 and 4 will be opposed and presumably equal so that the net effect will be zero. For any other direction of vibration there will at least be an elect equal to the dierence between the horizontal and vere tical components and, as already pointed out, for any vibration within 45 of the direction indicated by the arrow the effect of the two components will he added' rather than subtracted. If desired an arrow may be placed on the cap of the instrument to coi-respond to the'arrow on the diagram indicating the quadrant o! its greatlest sensitivity. In practice then this arrowshould preferably-he pointed in the known'or assumed direction of the source of the wave.

Reflected or retracted waves which it may also be desired to detect will in all probability fall within 45 of 'either side of this direction.

After the device has been used to pick up the desired waves at a particular location the instrument may be pulled out ci kthe ground. Tov

aidin this operation the' upper end of the cone is provided with a pair ci ears e3 and e4 each of which is provided with an. eye bolt 45. It will be found that due to the intimate contact of the cone with the earth considerable pulling will he required to remove the instrument. The turning of the cone by forcing against one or both of the ears will aid in loosening it 'or a' crow barmay be inserted below one ci the ears to pry it up. When once loosened the instrument may be readily raised hy means of the eye bolts.

Vlli the device is to he used ici' the reception of A sound or similar waves through water it is merely necessary to suspend the mstrument by means of the eye bolts in such a way as to completely immerse the device. The instrument is entirely watcraproof so that there is no danger of v4affecting the operation in any detrimental way.

While one mode of using the present invention has heen described in detail in the foregoing sections there are lriunrierous possibilities for modul-l cation of: various features for the accomplishment of somewhat different results'. Fora example, it is possible to so connect the odile, of the device alreday disclosed, with suitable transformers that not only the amplitude 'hut the direction of a source of sound or similar waves may be determined. In order to accomplish this result it is merely necessary to appropriately combine the clects produced in coils l and 4 and simultaneously combine the effects produced in coils 2 and 3. By then producingsepfarate indications as to the magnitude of the eects upon two groups of coils it is possible vto determine the direction of the source. For this purpose each coil is preferably connected in series with the primary coil of a separate transformer and with a D. C. source of electricity; the latter may if desired, as shown in Figure 3, be common to all of the circuits through the transformers and coils. Thus the coil 4 may have one of its terminals connected to one end of the primary coil of a transformer 4, while the other end of this primary may be connected to the terminal of the battery may then be connected to the other terminal of the coil 4. Similarly the remaining coils 3, 1 and 2 oi.' the armature'may be connected in series with the primary coils of transformers 3', l' and 2', respectively, in the manner shown, care being taken to pass the current through the several coils in such direction as to establish the polarity indicated.

With this hook-up of 'coils and transformers it will be apparent that the movement of the armature cross in the direction of the arrow, indicated in Figure 4, will increase the ux through coils 3 and 4 sothat currents will be induced therein to oppose this increase. A change in the current through the transformers 3' and 4' will therefore.

taire place in the direction indicated by the arrows adjacent the primary coils of these transformers. 0n the other hand, the ux passing through coils l and 2 will be decreased so that an E. M. F. aiding that from the source 46 will be induced in each .of these to oppose the decrease in flux and a change in current passing through the primary windings of the transformers 1 and 2 in the di' ctlon indicated by the arrows adjacent these 'Lndings will be brought about. The changes in lrrent in all of the primary windings of the ansformer will induce corresponding currents in ne secondary windings of these transformers, as .dicated by the arrows adjacent these windings. ow by appropriately connecting the coils 1 and in series in such a way as to add the two iniced currents flowing through them, a galvaameter 47 placed in the circuit may be made to .ve an indication in proportion to the change of ux through the coils 1 and 4. Similarly the secadary windings of transformers 2 and 3 may e connected in series so that their combined inuced currents may be detected by a galvanome- :r 48 whose reading will be proportional to the bange of flux through the coils 2 and 3. The eadings of the two galvanometers 47 and 48, rieiefore, will serve to indicate the components f the vibration in the two directions along the o-ordinate axes formed by the center lines of the rms of the armature cross. Knowing these comcnentsit is obvious that the precise direction of he source of vibration may readily be determined. It is assumed, of course, that as between wo directions 180 apart the general direction of he source will be known.

In connection with the form of the invention, as iereinabove described, it is highly desirable to Lttain as nearly as possible thefcondition in which yhe casing and all of the parts which move directly herewith, form a mass-not only having an aver- Lge density equal to that of the displaced soil but )ne whose center of gravity is the same'as that if the soil displaced. It will be apparent that the nore nearly this condition is approached the more iccurately the vibrations of the surrounding earth will be reproduced. Furthermore, it is desirable :hat the average density for each increment of 'Length shall bel substantially the same. Thus,'for example, it is preferable, although it is practically impossible to carry it out precisely, to have the center of gravity of each horizontal section of the device of say an inch in height in coincidence with the center of gravity of the soil which occupied the same space. Adherence as closely as possible to this condition will avoid muchl of the distortion in the vibrations of the casing which would otherwise result.

While an admirable form or embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed in detail in' the foregoing sections, it will be understood that many other changes may be made withinv the contemplationv of the invention and which will fall within the scope of the claims which follow. The invention described herein maybe manu-- factured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon. g v

What I claim is: y1. In a. vibration detector a ring of magnetic plane of said material, an armature mounted within and in the of said ring and having poles at right' angles to each other 'spaced slightly from said ring, coils mounted on said poles, means for supporting said ring and armature and adapted to permit relative bodily movement thereof in any direction in said plane in response to vibrations to be detected and means cooperating with said armature and said coils for indicating the relative magnitude of components along the axes of adjacent poles of vibrationsreceived. y I

2. In a vibration detector a ring ,of magnetic material, an armature mounted within and in the plane of said ring and having poles at right angles to each other and normally spaced equal distances .from said ring, coils mounted on said poles, means for supporting said ring and armature and adapted to permit relative bodily movement thereof in all directions in the plane of said ring in response to vibrations to be detected, and means cooperating with said armature and said coils for indicating the relative magnitude of lcomponents along the axes of adjacent poles of vibrations received, said vindicating means comprising a plurality of transformers, the primary windings of which are connected individually in series with each of said coils and a D. C. source of electricity, and the secondaries of those transformers the' primaries of which are connected to alternate coils being connected in series in pairs, each of said pairs being connected with a current' measuring device.

3. In a vibration detector a ring of magnetic material, an armature mounted within and in the plane of said ring and having'poles at right angles to each other spaced slightly from saidring, coils mounted on said poles, means for electrically energizing said coils so as to produce a magnetic flux between said poles and said ring, means for supporting said ring and said armature and adapted to permit relative bodily movement of said ring and said armature in any direction in the plane of said ring, and means cooperating with said armature and said coils Lfor'indicating the .components in the directions of the axes of vadjacent coils of av vibration affecting the detector and causing relative movement between said armature and said ring. v

4. A vibration detector vincluding an inertia member, a second member, means mounting one member on the other so as to permit relative movement between the members in any direction in a plane and electro-magnetic means actuated by movement of said members for generating electric currents proportional to the components of movements of said members in two directions at right angles to each other, and indicating means responsive to said currents for indicating the component movements in two directions along coordinate axes corresponding to the components movements at right angles to each other.

HARVEY C. HAYES. 

